Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Regret Not A Thing ❯ Ch. 10: To Forgive ( Chapter 10 )

Regret Not A Thing

By Mizerable

 

 

 

Ch. 10: To Forgive

 

It seemed like a perfectly normal morning. The air was a little cool, as was expected the day after a storm. But nothing seemed particularly out of place. Ino was just about to reach for her apron and open the shop when a messenger bird appeared in the window. Perhaps a mission had come up for her?

 

She took the note and was pondering where she would be sent, and with who. But as she scanned over the words, she felt her blood freeze in her veins.

 

“Permanent transfer to Team 13 effective immediately.”

 

Gai's squad. All she could think of was who must have been injured to cause such an opening. Who might have died?

 

* * *

 

But she obeyed the order despite her fears. Now Ino stood at the training ground, clutching the letter in her trembling fist and trying not to imagine who wouldn't be showing up.

 

Lee was the first to arrive, enthusiastic to begin training as always. He gave Ino a curious glance, though she didn't seem interested in answering any questions. His natural assumption was that Neji probably had family matters to attend to. At least, that's what he believed until Neji showed up shortly after him. He seemed puzzled for a moment as well, though he did a fine job of hiding it.

 

When their teacher finally arrived, he was strangely subdued. No warm greetings or sparkling smiles.

 

“Gai-sensei,” Ino raised her fist with the tightly-held message.

 

“First, just so we're all on the same page, Ino is now an official member of our squad. I'm sure we'll all be able to work together to be a great team,” Gai began, earning incredulous looks. Though Lee's expression was more than enough for all three of them.

 

“But—But what about Tenten-san?” Ino barely held back her shout.

 

Gai hated moments like this. The three of them were staring at him with their hearts in their eyes (though Neji attempted to maintain a relatively neutral expression). But times like this were also a part of life.

 

“I'm afraid to announce that Tenten has effectively resigned from active duty.”

 

“What?!” Lee cried, “That's impossible!”

 

Gai gestured for Lee to remain calm so that he could continue with his explanation.

 

“Was she injured?” came Neji's question, his voice cool and even.

 

“No…no, she's not injured,” Gai replied, knowing that she was at least physically well, “Family obligations, actually.”

 

Neji was learning to severely dislike that phrase.

 

“What do you mean?” Ino asked. She didn't know Tenten extremely well, but the girl had never hinted there was trouble at home.

 

“Well, it seems we have another marriage to celebrate,” Gai tried to sound sincere about it, but he didn't see very happy people staring back at him, “Her family has arranged for her to wed, and as is their custom, the female members of Tenten's clan are expected to leave behind their shinobi duties to take care of their new families.”

 

“What kind of stupid rule is that?” Ino muttered.

 

“But being a great kunoichi was Tenten's dream!” Lee didn't even bother keeping his voice down anymore, “She can't just give up like that!!”

 

“I'm told she did challenge for the title of heir, but was flat out refused,” Gai replied grimly, “Our Tenten did the best she could, but…”

 

Lee seemed to deflate upon hearing that. He, too, remembered how awful it felt to think he might have never gotten to chase his own dream. He often wondered what his life might have been like if he never had that operation, and it gave him cold sweats.

 

“How come she never told us?” Lee took on a more defeated tone.

 

“Tenten loved being a ninja,” Gai seemed a bit more exuberant at the thought, “I think she just wanted to enjoy her time as best she could, always hoping that she would find a way to stay.”

 

She didn't want us to worry about her.

Even though all she ever did was look after us.

 

Neji's stance was rigid with his jaw set tight, his hands in shaking white-knuckle fists at his sides. Even though they both suffered through similar “family obligations,” she did nothing but smile and wish him well. Yet who the hell was there for her during all her struggles? As a team, they'd sorely taken her presence for granted. Neji did not like that she just up and left, leaving them indebted with no chance to repay her.

 

And mostly, he was getting sick of being left in the dark yet again.

 

“Is there anything else you'd care to enlighten us about?” he couldn't restrain a sneer when he finally spoke up.

 

Gai knew he should have expected Neji's cold anger as a reaction, but this seemed to be far deeper. The squad watched Neji expectantly to learn of what else he had to say.

 

“When were you going to tell us that Uchiha Sasuke is back in Konoha?”

 

* * *

 

In a town full of ninjas who are trained to expertly gain information, it didn't take very long for the news to get around. Not only was Sasuke back, but both Naruto and Sakura had quit their apprenticeships with their respective members of the Legendary Sannin. One supposed that if Tsunade demanded it, the two would be forced to obey her orders and return to duty. Though she remained strangely silent on all accounts.

 

Naruto was sprawled out on his bed, every now and then glancing over at a table where a picture frame was lying face down. There had been an exhausting string of people knocking at his door all day. Was he okay? Did he see Sasuke? Did Naruto kick his ass? All day, it was the same string of questions. Now it was dusk, painting the sky a fantastic scarlet, followed closely by a bruised purple. Naruto had made up his mind not to answer the door for anyone, save for Sakura, until this whole mess died down. Or until Sasuke up and died. Whichever came first.

 

Naruto didn't want to acknowledge how close to death Sasuke actually looked.

 

Just as he was going to wage war with these traitorous thoughts, there was yet another knock at the door. Naruto rolled his eyes and silently wished whoever it was would go away. Though from the sound of it, it didn't seem like they were leaving anytime soon. It was a deliberate, methodical knock each time. No attempt was more demanding than the other, but it was mighty persistent. And annoying as hell.

 

Naruto was going to yell at them to get lost, when he thought his eyes were deceiving him. He rubbed at them, blinked, and checked again. No, he wasn't hallucinating. That was definitely sand coming in from under the door. Naruto watched in dreaded fascination as it curled upwards, climbing the door, and turning the locks.

 

Well. Fuck.

 

The door swung open and Gaara let himself in, closing the door softly behind him.

 

“I knew you were still inside,” Gaara explained his little “breaking-and-entering” stunt.

 

“Err…yeah,” Naruto offered lamely, “I'm not really up for company.”

 

Gaara's face didn't betray anything as he casually leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.

 

“So I've heard,” he replied crisply, “Are you going to throw me out?”

 

“Wha--? No,” Naruto mumbled, “So why are you here?”

 

Gaara's eyes slanted in concentration, as if he were trying to solve a great puzzle.

 

“I am confused,” Gaara began slowly, and Naruto sat up a little straighter, “I do not understand your actions.”

 

Naruto scowl deepened as he rested his head back against the wall.

 

“It's kind of a long story,” Naruto grumbled, staring out at that wounded sky.

 

“I am aware of the battle you fought with Sasuke years ago, and I know that your Hokage and your teachers did not tell you of his return. But you discovered his whereabouts and sought him out anyway,” Gaara stated in a rather dry tone, “Was there something else I should know?”

 

“I guess not,” Naruto kept his voice even, “It's just…I never really expected to be betrayed by so many people at once.”

 

Gaara snorted, his weight shifting ever so slightly. Naruto felt a twinge of guilt for unloading these thoughts on Gaara, of all people. The guy's own father tried to have him assassinated. He knew pretty damn well what people were capable of.

 

“So what's so confusing?” Naruto tried to move on with the conversation, despite his discomfort, “Do you think I'm overreacting?”

 

“I've killed people for less,” Gaara answered in a bored tone. Naruto audibly gulped at the admission. He didn't think preaching that killing his teachers was a crappy idea would help the situation.

 

“But you and I are rather different creatures in that respect,” Gaara continued, though whether he acknowledged Naruto's unease wasn't apparent, “You forgave me, despite knowing of my bloody past.”

 

“Yeah…well, it's not like I could blame you for ending up the way you did, either,” Naruto added, feeling a touch embarrassed. Both chose not to mention the major factor that shaped Gaara's personality. The same factor that could have made Naruto go down that same road.

 

“That's a very foolish statement to make,” Gaara's eyes narrowed, sand rustling ever so softly, “Do you think Sasuke may also be nothing more than the product of his own traumatized upbringing?”

 

“That's different.”

 

“Is it?” Gaara countered, “Is it only because he hurt you personally?”

 

“Of course not!”

 

“If I had killed Lee during the Chuunin Exam, would I still be welcome in your home?”

 

Naruto's eyes widened considerably, his pupils mere pinpoints.

 

“Everyone knew that was a risk during the test—“

 

“And if I had killed Sakura during our fight, would you think of me as your ally now?”

 

“…No. I probably would have killed you for it.”

 

“Why? You know I've killed countless others,” Gaara contended, “You've got quite a double-standard. So long as you and your loved ones aren't the ones being hurt, you can pardon the crime?”

 

Naruto looked visibly stricken as the blood drained away from his face. Not once had he ever thought he could be such a hypocrite. What if Gaara had killed someone he cared about? Did that give Naruto the right to condemn him forever? Did it make Gaara any less worthy of redemption?

 

“So let me ask you this,” Gaara's monotone snapped Naruto out of his stupor, “Why is it you can forgive me despite my crimes being far worse, yet you cannot offer the same to one of your closet friends?”

 

* * *

 

Sakura was starting to think she was a masochist.

 

Here she was, watching a wonderful sunset from a bench where she had woken up cold and alone four years ago. She'd left her heart to rot right on this very street. What the hell was she doing, coming back to this place now?

 

She glanced at the few pedestrians that had come and gone while she sat removed from the rest of the world. It wasn't until on of the passer-bys came to a slow halt that Sakura really gave any attention. But then their eyes were stuck on each other and there was no avoiding it now.

 

She hadn't known Ino had let her hair grow long again.

Ino hadn't known Sakura was capable of looking so hardened.

 

“You know, don't you?” Sakura's voice hit like a dull blade.

 

“It'd be impossible not to hear about it in this town,” Ino answered flippantly as she took a seat next to Sakura. Her particular expertise as a ninja required her to be a fantastic actress. “So what are you going to do about him?”

 

“Not a goddamn thing,” Sakura all but growled, “He can drop dead for all I care.”

 

Ino scoffed at her words. Sakura hadn't changed at all. Not really.

 

“Oh? I didn't think you'd give up so easily,” Ino maintained her haughtiness.

 

“I never realized what a prick he really was when I was younger,” came the clipped response.

 

Ino was going to say that the younger Sakura knew how to see the good in people, but decided that was really pushing it.

 

“And what about you?” Sakura went on the offensive, “Surely you can't still be interested.”

 

“Nope, I'm not,” Ino stretched her arms above her head, “Hell, if I saw him I'd probably punch him in the face.”

 

She didn't bother to mention that she couldn't be bothered to hold a grudge, despite everything. She had watched such resentment tear Shikamaru apart. She couldn't maintain that kind of anger when she was too busy trying to figure out how to put everything back together.

 

“But you,” Ino gave her a pointed look, “I thought you'd be over worrying about what everyone else thought of you by now.”

 

“Well aren't you presumptuous,” Sakura couldn't help but be a little snappish. Who was Ino to talk to her like that, after avoiding her for four years?

 

“You wouldn't be trying to prove yourself to everyone if you weren't trying to cover up being in love with a traitor.”

 

“I am not in love with him,” Sakura was on her feet now, almost hoping this could turn into a full-fledged fight, “And he certainly doesn't give a damn about me.”

 

Ino just rolled her eyes.

 

“Oh, please! If he's as sick as everyone says, then it doesn't seem like much of a shock that he'd probably act like a jackass,” Ino spoke as if this much should have been obvious, “Do you think he wants you to watch him die?”

 

Sakura's face burned at the thought before she forced herself to gain some composure. Before the tears rolled down her cheeks. She turned to walk away when Ino called out to her again.

 

“You'll regret it, you know,” Ino's tone softened, her lips quirking in a weak smile, “If you don't tell him the truth and he ends up dying alone, you'll regret it for the rest of your life.”

 

* * *

 

Moonlight was slipping through the shades, painting the room in faint filtered silver. Sasuke had been tracking its path by the way the shadows stretched and pulled taut across the floor. No one had come today. No tests and no surprise visitors. Aside from Anko checking in now and then to make sure he was still alive, she too had made herself rather scarce.

 

He thought he'd gotten used to the silence after all these years. But after all his travels and all his troubles, it only served to set him further on edge. Some deep part of his subconscious kept whispering stay alive, though he thought it was a little redundant at this point. Nonetheless, sleep was a distant stranger no matter how much he wished for it. It would be a fair bit better than having to address the thoughts crowding his mind.

 

But when a tap rattled the windowpane, he wondered if perhaps his self-preservation instincts weren't as dulled as they ought to have been by now. Cautiously he pulled the shades aside to find a bird waiting on the other side. While it wasn't a particularly impressive species to look at, the fact that it wasn't one native to Fire Country made it stick out sorely. A creature such as this usually kept residence in far colder and more mountainous regions.

 

He made quick work of the latch and pushed the window open. In return, the bird extended its leg to offer the note attached. Under that full moon, Sasuke read the words he had been dreading.

 

They are coming. Get out now.

 

* * *

 

Now that he'd grown more lucid, he could better assess his current situation. The place was cold and perhaps a little too drafty for his weakened sensibilities. But only now there was a third person to account for. Someone he didn't understand at all.

 

“I don't see what you're getting out of any of this,” his eyes roamed about the shabby little house, “You could walk away and nobody would probably even notice. You shouldn't have to be involved with us.”

 

“That's true, I suppose,” she admitted, stirring a pot heating over the fire, “But I also have a brother to look after…It's amazing, isn't it? The lengths a person could go to for a sibling.”

 

 

 

 

To be continued…